In:
PLOS Pathogens, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 19, No. 9 ( 2023-9-25), p. e1011657-
Abstract:
Inhibitors of bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins (iBETs), including JQ-1, have been suggested as potential prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, molecular mechanisms underlying JQ-1-mediated antiviral activity and its susceptibility to viral subversion remain incompletely understood. Pretreatment of cells with iBETs inhibited infection by SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV, but not MERS-CoV. The antiviral activity manifested itself by reduced reporter expression of recombinant viruses, and reduced viral RNA quantities and infectious titers in the culture supernatant. While we confirmed JQ-1-mediated downregulation of expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), multi-omics analysis addressing the chromatin accessibility, transcriptome and proteome uncovered induction of an antiviral nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF-2)-mediated cytoprotective response as an additional mechanism through which JQ-1 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication. Pharmacological inhibition of NRF-2, and knockdown of NRF-2 and its target genes reduced JQ-1-mediated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication. Serial passaging of SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of JQ-1 resulted in predominance of ORF6-deficient variant, which exhibited resistance to JQ-1 and increased sensitivity to exogenously administered type I interferon (IFN-I), suggesting a minimised need for SARS-CoV-2 ORF6-mediated repression of IFN signalling in the presence of JQ-1. Importantly, JQ-1 exhibited a transient antiviral activity when administered prophylactically in human airway bronchial epithelial cells (hBAECs), which was gradually subverted by SARS-CoV-2, and no antiviral activity when administered therapeutically following an established infection. We propose that JQ-1 exerts pleiotropic effects that collectively induce an antiviral state in the host, which is ultimately nullified by SARS-CoV-2 infection, raising questions about the clinical suitability of the iBETs in the context of COVID-19.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1553-7374
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.g006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.g007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.g008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.s005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.s006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.s007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.s008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657.s009
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2205412-1
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